Roku a company that makes a video device allowing customers to watch streaming services like Netflix announced on Wednesday Jan 2 that its starting a premium video channel service for a subscription fee according to a report by Reuters Channels like Showtime Starz and Noggin as well as others will be available on the Roku Channel a free video service available to people who own a Roku streaming video device Roku spun off from Netflix in 2008 The move is similar to Amazons 2015 launch of its own video service which let users pick which services they wanted to use and pay for them on their own without having to pay for cable service Amazons channels service has been a success bringing in Amazon Prime subscribers and large amounts of revenue for the companies participating Its expected to have made 17 billion in revenue in 2018 which is double the previous year Media executives think the key to the popularity of the channels approach is convenience consumers want to subscribe to services where theyre already watching TV Premium Subscriptions on The Roku Channel have a number of convenient features that make subscription streaming easy including the ability to browse all available content before signing-up free trials for all subscriptions one-click sign-ups and simple subscription management with a single monthly bill the company said on its blog Free live and premium content will be presented together in a single channel creating a simple way for you to browse search and watch a wide variety of entertainment without switching between multiple streaming channels Roku will also handle all the billing which will let watchers subscribe directly to the Roku channel without having to put in credit card info The channel will also be available on Rokus mobile app something the company has never done before LATEST INSIGHTS Our data and analytics team has developed a number of creative methodologies and frameworks that measure and benchmark the innovation thats reshaping the payments and commerce ecosystem Check out the latest PYMNTS report on how QSRs are doing when it comes to innovation